Jetty



13a E6, i948. G, WREHFELD 2,437,754-

- JETTY v Filed May ll, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

A frm/filers.

Mardl 16, 1948. G. W, REHFELD 2,437,754

JETTY Filed May 11, 1945 2 sheets-smet 2 I `NVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 16, 1948 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE JETTY George W. Rehfeld, Manhattan, Kans.

Application May 11, 1945, Serial No. 593,125

4 Claims.

This inventionrelates tojettiesrfor protecting the banks of streams from erosion or for rebuilding such banks after erosion has occurred. The most satisfactory jettiesv for these purposes are those formed of structural members, for example, angle irons secured togetherY in various forms and which may be provided with lacing to catch debris and retard the current sufficiently to effect deposit of silt carried by the stream. The structural members of such jetties must be of ample strength to withstand the force of iiood waters and floatingV objects carried therewith. For practical purposes, jetties as heretofore constructed were restrictediin .size in order to obtain the desired strength and weight ratio, and to reduce difficulty of installation, labor costs,- transportatlon charges, and to assure adequate bearing support thereof on the soils carrying `the jetties. Consequently, such jetties have small covering area and are not eective in deeper waters. 1

It is, thereiore,.the principal purpose of the present invention to provide a jettystructure involving long length, light weight structural main members secured together intermediate their ends to` form a plurality of outwardly diverging arms and legs so as to obtain a more efficient covering area for a .given weight structure, and to provide relatively rigid spreader members for transmitting forces acting against any one of the armsto other arms and/or legs, whereby they cooperate in supporting` the vstructure against the buffeting forces of flood waters.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a jetty structure that is readily adjusted toY obtain the height or spread required for a given installation; to provide a jetty structure including a prop member having a relatively long leg for bracing the jetty against the force ofthe current and prevent overturning thereof; to provide a jetty 'structure wherein thearms'are supported independently 'of' the lacing so that the structure continues to function long .after the lacing has given away to corrosiorrand breakage by floating objects; to provide'a jetty structure forming a pocket directed into the current for facilitating entrapment and collection `of debris thereby effecting more rapid rebuilding of the ground about the jetty; and to providea jetty structure wherein the spreader members cooperate with the lacing to retard the current and to prevent set tling of the jetty when installed on quicksand and loose soils.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention hereinafter pointed; 0111;, 1' havepro- 2 vided improved structure, the preferred formsof which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a jetty constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan View illustrating a line of jet'- ties for protecting the bank of a stream.

Fig. 3 is a perspectiveview of a modified form of jetty.

Fig. 4 is a perspective viewv of one of thefmain members showing the arrangement of holes therein to provide for adjustment.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of oneofthe spreader members. l

Figs. 6 and7 are diametric viewsillustrating adjustment of the jetty structure to t a 'particu'- lar installation, Fig. 6 `showing the ymainl members adjusted to form a tall jetty having a narrow spread, and Fig. '1, a shorter jetty'havinga wide spread.

Referring more in detail to the drawings and first to the form illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2:

l designates a jetty constructed in accordance with the present invention and which includes a plurality of main members consisting of cross members 6 and l and a prop member 8v which may be formed of relatively light weight angles having flanges 3 and 4. The flanges 3'and'14 are provided along the length thereof withA openings 5 to thread lacing and secure spreader members of the jetty later described.

In the jetty illustrated the members 5` and l are arranged in crossing relation with the flanges 4 thereof in face to face contact and securedtogether at the crossing point by a fastening device such as a bolt 9 and on which the members are adapted to pivot for varying the spreadv of the ends thereof; lfor example, when adjusting the jetty structure toform a tall jetty or one having a large spread (see Figs. 6 and 7)'. The prop member B extendstransversely ofthe member 1 and has one flange 4- secured in face to face contact with the ange 3 of the member l by a bolt Ii, the attaching point being spacedfrom the fastening bolt 9 whereby the member 8V is adapted to fulcrum within the crotch lll'` formed between the members 6 and 1 to thereby adjust the angle of the member 8 relative to the plane of the members B and 'l so as to'varythe spread of the ends of the member-8 relative to the'ends of the members S and 1. Themembers 6, l, and 3 thus forml a tripod-like structure 'having legs I2, l?, and la and outwardly and upwardly diverging arms l5, I6, and l'l.

Since the main members are of relatively long length, the legs I2, I3 and I4 will have a relatively wide spread to assure rm support of the tripodlike structure upon the bed of a stream and the arms I5, I6 and I1 will have relatively wide spread to provide a maximum retard area with a minimum weight. Since the main members are formed of relatively light weight angle material, they are substantially flexible and the arms I5, I6 and I1 formed thereby may be incapable of withstanding the bufteting effects of a flood torrent and the logs and other debris carried therewith, even though the main members are laced with a wire lacing in accordance with customary practice. This is especially true when parts of the wire lacing become deteriorated through corrosion or breaks under the flood forces acting thereagainst.

In order to overcome this difculty, the jetty is provided with spreader members I and I1 that are connecting the arms subjected to the more direct forces of the current and to connect the arms I5 and I1 by similar spreaders with one or more of the leg portions of the jetty.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 1, the arm I5 of the member 6 and the arm I1 of the member 8 are connected by a substantially rigid spreader member I9, preferably an angle and having one of the iianges 20 thereof lapping the arms I5 and I1 above the pivotal connections 9 and I I, the flanges of the member I9 being provided with openings 2I adapted to register with certain of the openings in the flanges of the members 6 and 8 to pass fastening devices such as bolts 22. It is thus obvious that any object striking the arm I1 on a side thereof in the longitudinal direction of the spreader will transmit a part of the shock therethrough to be absorbed by the arm I5 and that the arm I5 will act through the member I9 to assist in supporting the arm I1 and relieve tension on the lacing. The arms I5 and I1 are also preferably connected with the leg I3 of the member 1 by spreaders 23 and 24, which are preferably angles and having flanges thereof connected with the iianges of the main members by fastening devices 25 so that part of the force of a blow on the arms I5 and I1 is also absorbed by the leg I3.

In order that the main members and spreaders may be of standard length and yet provide an adjustable jetty, the ends of the spreaders are shown as being provided with a plurality of openings 2I in the iianges thereof and the flanges of the main members are also provided with a series of openings so that at least one opening in the ends of the -spreader members may be registered with an opening in the main members to pass the fastening devices therethrough. All of the main members are of the same length and the attachment point for the member 8 may be located so that the leg I2 is longer than the legs of the other main members to provide a prop for preventing overturn of the jetty and to better resist the forces acting upon the jetty. If desired, the member 8 may be longer than the members 6 and 1 to provide a llonger leg I2 as the case may require.

By inspection of Fig. 1, it will be noted that the arms I5 and I1 and the leg I3 cooperate with the spreader members I9, 23, and 24 to provide a substantially triangular pocket 26 located in facing relation with the direction of the current ow of a stream in which the jetty is installed.

In assembling the jetty, the members 6 and 1 are arranged in crossed relation and secured together by the fastening bolt 9 to form, for example, a cross, the relative width and height of which may be adjusted by pivoting the members on the bolt 9 (Figs. 6 and 7) so as to provide a relatively Wide spacing for the legs I3 and I4 and arms I5 and I6 which results in a short height jetty (Fig. 7), or the spacing may be narrowed to provide a tall jetty (Fig. 6), as needed at the site of installation. For example, if the Waters are low the jetty may be adjusted to obtain a Wide spread (Fig. 1) to reduce the number of jetties required to cover a given area, or if the water is deep and taller jetties are required, the terminals of the arms and leg-s may be brought closer together to provide greater height. However, it is obvious that a jetty thus adjusted will have less spread, but this may be compensated for. by increasing the number of jetties. The member 8 is then secured to the member 6 or 1 by the bolt Il and adjusted so that the leg I2 has the desired spread relative to the legs I3 and I4. The spreader members I9, 23, and 24 are then secured to retain the main members 6, 1, and 8 in adjusted position and to form the substantially triangular-shaped pocket 26. The lacing wires 21 are applied by threading them through selected openings in the main members and the ends are secured, for example, by twisting them about the wires, as shown at 28.

In installing the jetties, they are connected in series by a cable 29 having one end anchored to a deadman 3D buried in the bank of the stream indicated at 3| (Fig. 2), the jetties being connected with the cable in any suitable manner. When installed, the jetties are located so that the pocket portions 26 thereof are directed into the iiow of the current indicated by the arrows (Fig. 2), and they tend to collectI oating debris and to retard the current suciently to cause settlement of soil for building up the bank and to protect the bank from further erosion and retain the stream in a desired course.

As the soil builds up around the jetty the wires may gradually deteriorate and corrode so that the wires may become broken under load of the debris; however, the jetty continues to serve its intended function since the spreader members I9. 23, and 24 have adequate strength to support the members of the jetty independent of the lacing wires. The spreader members being relatively rigid, tie the main members together under tension and also hold the main members apart under buffeting forces.

In the form of jetty illustrated in Fig. 3, a greater number of spreader members are used; for example, the arm I6 may be connected with the arms I5 and I1 by spreader members 33 and 34 and the legs I2, I3 and I4 may be connected with spreader members 35, 36 and 31, while the arms I5 and I6 may be connected with the leg I2 by spreader members 38 and 39 and the arms I6 and I1 may be connected with the leg I3 by spreader members 40 and 4I. Thus, the number of leg and arm connecting spreaders in addition to those required to frame the pocket 26 may be varied to suit the particular installation.

When the spreader members are used as shown in Fig. 3, they may be adequate to provide the necessary retard of the current and the lacing may be omitted.

From the foregoing it is obvious that I have provided a jetty structure which involves long length, light weight structural members to produce a jetty having a relatively wide spread and/or height depending upon the particular site in which the jetty is to be installed.

It is also obvious that the jetty while being of light weight and capable of substantial spread, the strengthening effect afforded by the spreaders adequately maintains the shape of the jetty, prevents disarrangement of the and leg portions thereof under the severe forces to which jetties are ordinarily subjected.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A jetty including a plurality oi structural members arranged one crossing another at a point intermediate ends of said members to provide upwardly and outwardly diverging arms and outwardly and downwardly diverging legs, means for connecting the members together in said crossing relation, and substantially rigid spreader members connecting a pair of immediately ad jacent arms above the connecting means and said arms with an intermediate leg below the connecting means to support compression loads on said arms and legs and to form a pocket adapted to catch floating debris.

2. A jetty including a pair of members arranged one crossing the other at a point intermediate ends of said members to provide upwardly and outwardly diverging arms and outwardly and downwardly dii/erging legs, means for connecting the members together in said crossing relation, a prop member crossing one of said members to provide a leg cooperating with the legs of the pair of members to form a tripoint support for said jetty and an upwardly and outwardly diverging arm, pivot means for securing the prop member pivotally to said member crossed thereby for obtaining a desired spread and angle of inclination for the pair of members, a substantially rigid spreader member Connecting the arm of the prop member with one of the arms of the pair of members above the crossing point of said crossed members, and similar rigid spreaders connecting said connected arms with the leg of the other member of said pair of members Ibelow the crossing point of said crossed members, said spreader members having adjustable connections with the members connected thereby to conform with the desired spread of said legs.

3. A jetty including a pair of main members arranged one crossing the other at a point intermediate ends of said members to provide upprojecting arm wardly and outwardly diverging arms and outwardly and downwardly diverging legs, means for connecting themain members together in said crossing relation, a prop member crossing one of said pair of main members to provide a prop leg cooperating with the legs of the pair of main Imembers to form a tri-point support for said jetty and an upwardly and outwardiy diverging arm, means for securing the prop member to said member crossed thereby, a substantially rigid spreader member connecting the arm of the prop member with one of the arms of the pair of members above the crossing point of said crossed members, and similar rigid spreaders connecting said last named, arms with the leg of said other member of said pair of members below said crossing points.

4. A jetty including a pair of members arranged with one crossing the other at a point intermediate the ends of said members to provide upwardly and outwardly diverging arms and downwardly and outwardly diverging legs, means for connecting the members together in said crossing relation, a prop member crossing one of said members to provide a leg cooperating with the legs of the pair of members to form a tripoint support for said jetty and an upwardly and outwardly diverging arm, means for securing the prop member to said member crossed thereby, a substantially rigid spreader member connecting the arm of the prop member with the arm of said other member of the pair of members above the crossing points of said members, and similar rigid spreaders connectin-g the arm of the prop member and the arm 0f said other member with the leg of the member that is connected with the prop member.

GEORGE W. REI-IFELD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

